Truckers Body Threatens 'Chakkajam' if Toll Issue not Resolved

New Delhi: Demanding transparent toll system with a provision for annual payment, apex transporters body 'AIMTC' on tuesday said it would proceed with strike if their concerns are not addressed by August 25.

Pitching for replacing the present system with a transparent one, the industry body said it has been raising voice against the "unjust, non-transparent and unreasonable toll policy" of the government which is designed in favour of private developers.

"We have been continuously raising the issue of lack of transparency in the toll collection system leading to severe hardships to transporters but the government has chosen to remain silent. Both the toll system and TDS provision are affecting transporters," AIMTC President Bhim Wadhwa told reporters in New Delhi.

He added: "We have demanded collection of one-time toll annually on the pattern of national permit and relaxation in the TDS. If the government fails to address our issues by August 25, we will summon the managing committee to decide on a date to proceed on a chakkajam/strike."

He said the road transport fraternity is very much annoyed at the current state of affairs as majority of the highway traffic constitutes goods and passenger commercial vehicles but the government is not bothered to address their issues.

AIMTC has been raising the issues of flawed toll policy, draconian provisions of carriage by Road Act and ambiguous policy of registration, among others, but was getting only assurances, Mr Wadhwa said.

While information received under RTI showed an average Rs 7,000 crore annual toll collection, the government claimed it ranged between Rs 9,000-Rs 11,500 crore, he added.